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Levon Aronian vs Vasyl Ivanchuk
Linares (2009), Linares ESP, rd 7, Feb-26
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation. Gligoric-Taimanov System (E92)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Given 12 times; par: 62 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-26-09  Billy Vaughan: Go Chucky! The ending was looking sharp for a while, but then Chucky just started eating everything and it was over.
Feb-26-09  zoren: Unnecessary sacrifice of Knight by Aronian.
Feb-26-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  ajk68: Can someone explain the need for 31. Nxf4
Feb-26-09  jurado96: the guy went KUKU
at least he had a draw
Feb-26-09  beenthere240: <ahj68> what else would you suggest that might stave off an avalanch of pawns not to mention heavy pieces coming in on the h file?
Feb-26-09  Marmot PFL: Whatever compensation white had he threw away with 36.h3? and 38.g4?
Feb-26-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: Why didn't black play 26...Qg5, which seems to win a piece? Why did white play 31. Nxf4, which seems to lose one? (True, white got two ♙s in exchange, but he gave them right back.)
Feb-26-09  SBGiffy: if qg5 rg3 saves the piece
Feb-26-09  Aspirador: <al wazir> 26...Qg5 27.Bxd6 wins for white, g2 is protected!

As for 31.Nxf4, computers switch from 0.00 to -0.65 after that, so it was probably a bad move. But it might be comparable to the famous Nxg4 that Aronian played against Anand in the same tournament. A pragmatic decision that ends the black initiative immediately. Even though white it still worse after that, at least you don't have to defend against the heavy pressure of blacks pieces on the g- and h-file.

Feb-26-09  notyetagm: ROGOZENKO:

<Aronian played well until now, but here he errs. 22.b5? <<<This advance is connected with a wrong idea. In order to find the correct solution White needs to notice the well hidden tactical motif: black queen and king are both on the same file and White has ideas to pin the queen!>>> This can be reached in the following way: 22.Nd3! Be3 (22...Bd2 doesn't prevent White's intention: 23.Nb1 Be3 24.b5 Nc7 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 26.Rg3) 23.bxc5! Nxc5 (Relatively best is to make a positional concession and leave the knight on a6, although after 23...bxc5 24.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 25.Nf2 White has a large advantage.) 24.Nxc5 Bxc5 25.Bxc5 (Accuracy is always required. Bad is to start with 25.Ne4 fxe4 26.Bxc5 in view of 26...Ba4!) 25...bxc5 26.Ne4! fxe4 <<<27.Rg3 Mission completed. White wins thanks to the pin on the g-file.>>>>

Feb-26-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <SBGiffy: if qg5 rg3 saves the piece>

Of course. That's completely obvious. I saw it all along. You don't think I could have missed anything that obvious, do you? I was just testing you.

But thanks anyway.

Feb-27-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  ajk68: Is 31. Ne1 a better option?
Feb-27-09  kellmano: 36. h3 confuses me. Sac a piece for two pawns then give one back.
Feb-27-09  arnaud1959: What can white do instead of 31.♘f4..? White pieces lack coordination and good squares and the poor black ♘ on a6 on the 21st move is planning now to come powerfully on f6, controlling e4 and g4. Imo Aronian didn't want to be crushed slowly and he tried his last chance. He often plays like this and sometimes he saves the game.
Feb-27-09  shintaro go: Hard lesson to learn Lev. Breaking down the KID isn't as easy as it seems. Go ask Loek how its done.
Feb-28-09  Shadowsoul: I like Lev's style very much,but I think that if he wants to go further higher,he should try to be more careful.He has so many fantastic ideas,sacrificing pieces but sometimes he seems just like he doesnt care for the consequences...Something else,do you think 23.Bxf7 is a good move??It seems to me that there is no reason to give your light-squared bishop at this stage of the game...Maybe Im missing something here.
Mar-05-09  cade: Why does Aronian throw away his g&h pawns? He could just play 36.Rb2 instead.
May-01-09  notyetagm: Game Collection: King and queen on the same line always means PIN
May-01-09  notyetagm: ROGOZENKO:

<Aronian played well until now, but here he errs. 22.b5? <<<This advance is connected with a wrong idea. In order to find the correct solution White needs to notice the well hidden tactical motif: black queen and king are both on the same file and White has ideas to pin the queen!>>> This can be reached in the following way: 22.Nd3! Be3 (22...Bd2 doesn't prevent White's intention: 23.Nb1 Be3 24.b5 Nc7 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 26.Rg3) 23.bxc5! Nxc5 (Relatively best is to make a positional concession and leave the knight on a6, although after 23...bxc5 24.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 25.Nf2 White has a large advantage.) 24.Nxc5 Bxc5 25.Bxc5 (Accuracy is always required. Bad is to start with 25.Ne4 fxe4 26.Bxc5 in view of 26...Ba4!) 25...bxc5 26.Ne4! fxe4 <<<27.Rg3 Mission completed. White wins thanks to the pin on the g-file.>>>>

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